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Support “Cheers for Molokai and Lanai High”

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Please join us at a very special “Cheers for Molokai and Lanai High”. The event is a fundraiser to supplement the transportation budgets at Molokai and Lanai High Schools.

It's a fully hosted street party with heavy pupu and cocktails by Murphy’s Bar and Grill and Hukilau. Plus, we’ll feature special island delicacies from Molokai and Lanai including kulolo, bread, deer jerky and more. Brother Noland and others will provide the lively entertainment. Hosted by Billy V.

WHERE:
We’re closing Merchant Street to throw a fully hosted street party with heavy pupu and cocktails by Murphy’s Bar and Grill and Hukilau.

WHEN:
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

TICKETS:SOLD OUT

If you cannot make the event, you can still donate to support Molokai High and Lanai High.

$25

$50

$100

Other Amount

FACTS:

For student-athletes at Molokai High and Lanai High, every away game requires difficult, costly travel on a small plane or a bumpy ferry.

Molokai HS is facing a $32,000 shortfall on its 2013-14 travel budget, which threatens participation and possibly sending less-than-full squads for games on Maui and Lana'i. Lanai HS faces similar budget shortfalls challenges annually.

As a result, Molokai and Lanai teams often compete short-handed and fatigued and generally offer less sports, substandard athletic equipment and less opportunities for student-athletes to compete.

Families who choose to support their son or daughter on the road often spend hundreds of dollars per game just to watch their child play.

Molokai’s local fund-raising is not a reliable option since the island economy is extremely weak – 70 percent of the 350 students qualify for free or subsidized meals.

Any fundraising proves to be a challenge since all the school’s athletic teams are tapping the same limited pool of residents – Molokai’s population is just over 8,000 while Lanai has about 3,100 residents.

Still, to cover the high cost of travel and athletic equipment, it isn’t uncommon for Molokai and Lanai High teams to participate in more than one fundraiser each season, selling everything from chocolate candy to T-shirts, sausage to pies.

Budget for new uniforms is depleted; some teams use ones that are up to 10 years old.

When a team arrives in Lahaina, Maui, players wait until a coach catches a cab ride to fetch a bus kept nearby at Lahainaluna High School.

For a tournaments on Oahu, teams often sleep at a high school and cook meals in the cafeteria. With more financial support, Lanai HS would like to expand its athletic program and increase participation.

Currently, Lanai High does not offer football, soccer, or swimming because of lack of budget and resources. Next year, however, the school will have its first 8-person football team, which will need to travel to Maui multiple times for regular season games.

Funds raised by the Downtown Athletic Club Hawaii through the Jan. 29th Cheers for Molokai and Lanai event will be distributed to the athletic departments of Molokai High School and Lanai High School (in proportion to the number of students served) to supplement the departments’ travel budgets. Mahalo for your support!